NEWS OF THE DAY

Taranaki Daily News, 6 October 1934, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Returning from the Boys’ High School steeplechase yesterday the more plodding runners were subjected to various unkindly pleasantries. One of them, however, prevented all further chaff by saying firmly, “Look here, I never stopped walking once.” Large areas of country in the South Island have been completely denuded of rabbits by a disease which has not been identified. In some cases areas up to 12,000 acres have been completely cleared, and from reports sc-t forward it appears that rabbits have not made any reappearance'On areas where the disease has been noticed. The exemption of farmers' motortrucks from heavy traffic license fees had got to come, remarked Cr. H. A. Foreman, chairman 'of the Clifton County Council, yesterday during a brief discussion on the subject. The fanner paid rates to construct and maintain the roads and it was unfair that he should have to pay license fees to use them. He did not think the position had yet been put strongly enough before the authorities. Parking lines of four different colours have been painted in Egmont Street, New Plymouth, in an experiment to determine the most useful and economical paint Tests for spreadability, lastmg power and general appearance are being conducted. The red colour used in the line, from the Devon Street intersection to King Street is claimed to be the most suitable of the paints used.

A remarkable bowling performance was put up by two brothers in a school cricket match at Sanders Park, New Plymouth, yesterday, when M. and B. White bowled unchanged for the Waitara team to dismiss the. Fitzroy team for five him. M. White’s average was eight wickets for one run and in the second innings he took five for seven. His brother took two wickets for two runs and one for 12.

The diamond jubilee of the Taranaki Agricultural Society's autumn show will be held at the Waiwakaiho showgrounds, New Plymouth, in March, 19367* The first show was held at Bell Block and subsequent shows on the New Plymouth racecourse. During the earlier years 'of the society’s existence the autumn show contained many of the sections, such as home industries, which are now conducted at the winter show at the Coronation Hall, New Plymouth. After being tied up alongside the Moturoa wharf for six' or seven months, the Taranaki- Harbour Board's dredge Paritutu put out to sea yesterday for the purpose of setting her compasses for the forthcoming trip to Wellington. After completing successful tests, the Paritutu returned to her berth, where she will remain until her bunker coal arrives by the Karetu on Tuesday. The dredge will probably sail on Tuesday evening for Wellington, where she will go on the slip for overhaul. Busy times are ahead for watersiders at the Port of New Plymouth during the next few days. The. overseas vessel Tainui arrived last night to load dairy produce and the phosphate steamer Alynbank is due to-morrow from Nauru Island direct with 4800 tons of phosphates. The Waikawa is expected on Monday to load, and the intercolonial ship Karetu will discharge coal on Tuesday before sailing for Melbourne direct. The coastal trader Holmglen is due to-day and the John and Storm on Tuesday.

New Plymouth Fire Brigade received a call at 2 o’clock yesterday morning to Avenue Road, where it was found that outbuildings attached to one of the Railway Department’s cottages occupied by Mr. T. F. E. Steel were well alight. After running out 200 feet of hose from the main head the brigade had the fire well under control before it seriously threatened the main building. Its hold, however, had been so firm on the outbuildings that little could be done to save them; they were gutted and the contents destroyed. The origin of the fire is a mystery.

The audience at the Gisborne Choral Society’s concert in. the City Hall, Gisborne, on Wednesday night was greatly alarmed when the Savage Club’s musical director, Mr. Mainland Foster, suddenly collapsed as he was about to claim the attention of the orchestra before the commencement of an overture. It was feared that Mr. Foster had suffered a sudden illness, and there was general consternation until it was announced that Mr. Foster had accidentally put one foot over the edge of the conductor’s stand and had overbalanced. Mr. Foster fell heavily and was dazed for some time, but was later able to resume conducting the orchestra. The North Taranaki Arts and Crafts Society will hold an exhibition of work done by its members at an early date, provided a sufficient quantity of good work is available. At an executive meeting held at New Plymouth on Tuesday an exhibition sub-committee was formed which was empowered to examine the work submitted by members of the society and to decide whether or not the quantity and quality was sufficient to warrant the holding of an exhibition. The meeting also discussed a suggestion that the New Plymouth Borough Council should be approached with a request that an art gallery should be provided in the new public library buildings. The tender of Matthews and Kirkby at £978 was yesterday accepted by the Clifton County Council for bitumen sealing 100 chains of the Auckland-Wellington highway. The work will start on the Urenui side of the Okoke Road and will continue practically to the Urenui Domain Road. ' It is probable that in the near future an improvement will be effected to the hill near the Okoke junction as the county engineer, Mr. N. C. Fookes, suggests that an endeavour should be made to have that put in hand by relief labour as soon as the work on the Urenui Hill deviation is completed. .

Some of the tribulations that beset the women of the backblocks owing to lack of reading facilities were graphically described by Mrs. F. M. Whittaker, Okoke, who waited on the Clifton County Council yesterday asking that two and a-half miles of the Piko Road should be metalled. She, herself, had been tipped off a sledge and landed with a can full of cream on top of her in the mud, which had to be scraped off her with a stick. It was in cases of sickness, however, that, the greatest trial was experienced. Only quite recently Mrs. Wereta, who accompanied her on the deputation, had slipped while taking home a sick boy just discharged from hospital and the mud and water had poured over her shoulder. She felt that if she had had any of the councillors there at the time she could have put them in the hole and drowned them. The two-day spring fair held by St. Mary’s Church, New Plymouth, concluded yesterday. It is estimated that the receipts will not be far short of £l5O. On the evening of the first day a short musical programme was contributed by Misses J. Grice and E. Ritchie, and Master K. Bullen (songs), Mr. H. Gilmore Smith and P. West (elocution items), and the Boys’ High School orchestra (selections). The accompaniments were played by Miss F. Broad.

For overalls,, smocks, shorts, beach or hiking suits, casements or bedspreads, there is nothing to beat “Cesarine,” the wonder cloth or the famous “Indian Head.” These two cloths have a worldwide reputation for durability, fastness of dye, and cannot be equalled at the relative prices of 1/9 and 1/11 by any other cloth in existence. ' It pays to buy the best. Scanlan’s Ltd. carry full stocks.*